Read

Exodus 23:14-15 (CEB)14You should observe a festival for me three times a year. 15Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread, as I commanded you. Eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, because it was in that month that you came out of Egypt. No one should appear before me empty handed.

Reflect

Imagine this: A bunch of your friends get together for a birthday party. There’s great music. There’s a lot of food. People are hanging out and talking. Some are playing games. Then, all at once, somebody brings in a cake, a lit up with candles, and everybody starts in singing Happy Birthday. And when they get to the part that goes, “Happy birthday dear…..ah….umm…” Nobody has any idea whose birthday it is! Nobody has any idea why they are there celebrating. How weird would that be?

It would be weird, but you know what? People celebrating without really knowing why they’re celebrating isn’t necessarily uncommon.

Easter is coming up. All across the country, people will have off school and work on Good Friday. Families will gather together for big dinners and many will go to church for the first time since the end of December. It’s sad to say, but on our most holy day, lots of people are more focused on the Easter Bunny than on Jesus.

Even those who are faithful followers of Jesus can get a little sidetracked by all the “stuff” that goes along with Easter—chocolate bunnies and candy eggs. Jesus’ gifts of forgiven sins and eternal life are so freely given, that we can often be guilty of taking them for granted. We cannot allow that to happen. Jesus suffered and died that we might live—live eternally in Heaven. His resurrection proves his power over death. He should be celebrated with every fiber of our being.

Respond

How will you remember the sacrifice of Jesus? How will you celebrate the risen Christ? Start making a plan to ensure that this Easter will be all about Jesus. How will you honor him?

Relate

If today’s devotion spoke to you in a particular way and you feel led to share your thoughts with others, please do so.

Read

Exodus 23:14-15

14You should observe a festival for me three times a year. 15Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread, as I commanded you. Eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, because it was in that month that you came out of Egypt.

No one should appear before me empty handed.

Reflect

Imagine this: A bunch of your friends get together for a birthday party. There’s great music. There’s a lot of food. People are hanging out and talking. Some are playing games. Then, all at once, somebody brings in a cake, a lit up with candles, and everybody starts in singing Happy Birthday. And when they get to the part that goes, “Happy birthday dear…..ah….umm…” Nobody has any idea whose birthday it is! Nobody has any idea why they are there celebrating. How weird would that be?

It would be weird, but you know what? People celebrating without really knowing why they’re celebrating isn’t necessarily uncommon.

Easter is coming up. All across the country, people will have off school and work on Good Friday. Families will gather together for big dinners and many will go to church for the first time since the end of December. It’s sad to say, but on our most holy day, lots of people are more focused on the Easter Bunny than on Jesus.

Even those who are faithful followers of Jesus can get a little sidetracked by all the “stuff” that goes along with Easter—chocolate bunnies and candy eggs. Jesus’ gifts of forgiven sins and eternal life are so freely given, that we can often be guilty of taking them for granted. We cannot allow that to happen. Jesus suffered and died that we might live—live eternally in Heaven. His resurrection proves his power over death. He should be celebrated with every fiber of our being.

Respond

How will you remember the sacrifice of Jesus? How will you celebrate the risen Christ? Start making a plan to ensure that this Easter will be all about Jesus. How will you honor him?